Page 68 of The Stranger
“Aww, bless her.”
“It’s nice to hear you laughing again,” he says. “Even if it is at my expense.”
“It’s been a tough few days,” I admit, picking up the paper napkin and twisting it between my fingers. “I’ve been hiding out in my room because I thought you didn’t want me around.”
“Delilah,” he says, reaching across the table to place his hand on top of mine. “That’s ridiculous.”
I shrug. “It’s how I felt, and I can’t even afford to move out.”
“That is the last thing I want,” he admits with sincerity. “That room is yours for as long as you need it.”
“Two of the guys I work with at the restaurant offered to rent out their spare room to me. I don’t know either of them that well, but you and I were basically strangers when I moved in. If it will make things easier for you, I can take them up on their offer.”
He drops his half-eaten burger onto his plate and sits up straighter in his seat. “Please don’t do that,” he pleads.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive,” he replies without hesitation.
“Okay. The boys were going to charge me two hundred dollars a week for the room … I probably should start paying you if I’m going to stay.”
“I bet they were,” he mumbles under his breath. “Make me a home-cooked meal now and then and I’ll call us even.”
“That doesn’t seem fair.”
“It seems more than fair. I don’t want or need your money, Delilah. Your cooking though …”
“Alright. I can certainly do that,” I reply, feeling relieved. I wasn’t entirely keen on making the move.
It’s better the devil you know.
By Wednesday I’m finding my groove. I’m slowly getting used to my new position and boss, but I miss being up on Spencer’s floor. On the plus side, there is a lot more activity down here, and I’m making some friends. I’ve even been invited out for drinks with a group of people on Friday night after work. Apparently, it’s a weekly occurrence.
On the home front, I’ve finally come out of hibernation. Things are still a little strained between us, but they are better than they were. We are cohabitating, albeit at a distance.
I turn and glance over my shoulder when Marcy exits her office. “Are you almost done with the spreadsheets I got you to print out?”
“I’m just collating them now,” I tell her.
She glances down at her watch. “The meeting is about to start; I need to get going. Can you bring them down to the boardroom when they’re done?”
“Of course. I’ll only be a few more minutes.”
“Do you know what floor it’s on?”
“Yes, eleven. Mr Prescott’s assistant, Simone, gave me a tour of the entire building on my first day.”
“Great.”
Sliding the last two pieces of paper into each presentation binder, I gather them into a neat pile and clutch them to my chest as I hurry towards the elevators. Mytight pencil skirt and high heels slow me down, so I’m feeling flushed when I arrive on the eleventh floor.
Scurrying down the long hallway and past the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the conference room, I see the long table in the centre has at least twenty people seated around it. When I reach the open doorway, I notice they are all in deep conversation, and now I wish I worked a little faster and had these folders ready for Marcy before she left.
I try my hardest not to focus on Spencer, who is looking every bit the CEO, positioned at the head of the table. But when he pauses mid-speech and turns his head to lock eyes with me, that little zing that only he can evoke springs to life, lighting me up from the inside out.
My cheeks heat as I tear my gaze from him and move my eyes around the table. Everybody’s attention has now shifted to me. “Excuse me,” I squeak, slinking further into the room and towards my new boss. “Here are the presentation folders you were after,” I whisper as I place them down in front of her and slowly retreat out of the room.
My eyes dart back to Spencer when I reach the doorway, but he’s no longer looking at me. He’s scowling as he stares straight ahead. Yikes, have I upset him again?
